Brugmansias - introduction and safety warning

These plants are often confused with their near relatives the daturas. They also have a reputation for being poisonous, which the seed capsules of daturas certainly are. The sap and leaves of brugmansias do have two interesting effects.

Firstly the sap acts on the eye like atropine. I came in from one autumn pruning session and looked in the mirror to see one pupil normal size and one dilated to the point I could see no iris. Concerned that this might be a symptom of a stroke Dawn rushed me to the casualty department of the North Devon Hospital. It took a while but they eventually worked out what had happened. The eye stayed like that for about 3 days.

More recently I noticed a cracked window in the greenhouse before a really cold night. I went out at about ten o'clock with some tape to seal it, a torch and some bubble wrap. Standing between tightly packed brugmansias trying to hold the torch between my knees while tearing the tape with my teeth, balancing the wrap on my shoulder and trying not to tread on the pots of colocasia between the big pots, I slipped and ended up with a faceful of foliage and a strange taste in my mouth. I sealed up the crack and went in to wash my mouth out. That night I was troubled by the most lively and disturbing dreams I can ever remember. The following day all seemed OK until I took an early night and within minutes was dreaming about changing a lamp in a long reflective shade (I guess a bit like a grow light). There was a sudden blinding fizz and crackle of electricity which threw me in the air and I landed back on the bed fully awake. Fortunately this seemed to be the last kick as it left my system, but getting back to sleep was not easy. Dawn wasn't much impressed either. I'm told that chewing brugmansia leaves was something done by shamens in some cultures and the dreams it provoked were of the more crazy kind. I also read that high doses can be fatal. I recently read 'Bloodhunt' by Ian Rankin (one of the books he wrote under the name Jack Harvey) and he mentions a drug called 'bird' made from brugmansia which his main character in the book used as a truth drug. Anyway the point is: Don't try this at home!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grand Marnier

There do seem to be a number of brugmansias which go by this name, including a very sickly looking pink one. This one is vigorous with a wonderful scent, as anyone who walks down our road on a summer evening would surely testify.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variegata Sunset

Brugmansia Variegata Sunset with over 150 flowers on the plant(and Ziggy in on the act). A lot of people seem to have problems getting brugmansias to flower at all or to flower before autumn. The answer is twofold. The plants seem to need to get tall before they will flower, so don't cut them down too severely before bringing them inside in the autumn. I leave them at about 5-6ft. Secondly and crucially from March onwards feed them with high potash feed at every watering (later this will mean daily!). The plants suffer no ill effects from this treatment and as you see above they flower magnificently. This winter the plant went into a complete sulk when dug up and shoe-horned into a pot to overwinter in the greenhouse and shed all its leaves. I wasn't unduely bothered knowing how strongly these monsters grow, and sure enough now (early May) it is shooting away nicely and is due back out in a week or so. However one unexpected outcome was that for the first time ever it has set lots of seeds. These have germinated well and will be on sale at openings. If you do buy one let us know how  it turns out.

The other great thing about Brugmansias, quite apart from their gorgeous evening scent (and for that you need the right one. A lot of the ones you get from catalogues smell of mothballs), is the ease with which you can strike cuttings. I tend to take them in September when the plant has sent up strong new shoots. The best size is about five to six feet long, this way you get instant standards (see earlier comment about height and flowering). I generally remove most of the foliage, stick in a pot and mist daily, or when I remember. The foliage dies back, roots appear out of the bottom of the pot in a few weeks and they are away.I have often had these in flower by Christmas! (Variegata Sunset grows somewhat more slowly)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The upward facing flowers and glossiness of leaf of Grand Marnier(foreground) together with the pendulous flowers and duller leaves of Variegata Sunset suggest to me that Variegata Sunset is not, as often stated, a variegated form of Grand Marnier. In any case they differ greatly in scent 

Propagation Challenge:

The brugmansias are really easy to propagate and instant standards can be created. The longest cutting I have managed to root so far is 5ft 8 inches (or for those who feel I should no longer be using feet and inches: 0.34 rods, 3.78 cubits* or 0.94 fathoms - although the last would only apply if the cutting were inserted upside down in water to its own depth to the detriment of its chances to root.)

Your challenge, should you wish to accept it is to root a longer cutting. This website will crash in 15 seconds. Let me know how you get on. The best time to take cuttings is September when the plant throws up long shoots. A well fed cutting taken at this time can be in flower by Christmas.

*English cubits